Padthaway man James Bryson makes first court appearance over double fatal crash at Willalooka

A man has made his first court appearance over a horrific double fatal crash in the South-East late last year that killed two Victorian people.

A Padthaway man charged over a crash that killed two people in the state’s South-East during November last year made his first court appearance this morning.

James Paul Bryson is facing two charges of causing death by aggravated driving over the fatal crash at the intersection of the Riddoch Highway and McGrice Road, at Willalooka, on November 18.

James Paul Bryson outside Naracoorte Magistrates Court on Wednesday, January 24, 2024, for his first appearance on charges over a double fatal car crash. Picture: 7NEWS

The scene of the Willalooka crash. Picture: 7NEWS

He appeared before the Naracoorte Magistrates Court on Wednesday, supported by his parents, for a brief hearing.

Dennis Frazer, 77, was killed in a car crash at Willalooka on November 18.

Emergency services were called to the Willalooka intersection about 9:40am on Saturday, November 18, after a Toyota Ute driven by Mr Bryson collided with a Ford Territory carrying Dennis Frazer, 77, and a 65-year-old female passenger, from Victoria, who both died at the scene.

Mr Frazer, who was from Warrnambool, is remembered as being a loving pop and dad by his family.

The duo were the 98th and 99th people killed on SA roads during 2023.

Following the crash, Mr Bryson was taken to the Mount Gambier Hospital with serious injuries.

He was later charged with two counts of causing death by aggravated driving – aggravated because his blood alcohol level was about 0.08 per cent at the time of the crash, according to his charge sheet.

His next appearance will be before the Mount Gambier Magistrates Court in May.